Teaching mindfulness to kids

There is an emerging body of research that indicates mindfulness can help children improve their abilities to pay attention, to calm down when they are upset and to make better decisions. In short, it helps with emotional regulation and cognitive focus.

How to teach mindfulness to students:

First, help them understand the word. Mindfulness is AWARENESS. It is noticing our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and anything that is around us and happening right now.

As the educator, keep reasonable expectations. Even if you are successful with every student, it will not completely get rid of what is "normal kid behavior" like tantrums and loudness and whining and exuberance and arguing. It will, however, teach them skills that will help them recognize their emotions and feelings, know when the need to direct their attention back to the task at hand and it will provide tools for impulse control.

Use specific activities to teach them what mindfulness is.

The Activity: Listen, just listen.

Have students pay attention to what they hear. You can use a bell, a singing bowl, a set of chimes or a phone app that has sounds on it. Tell your students they will close their eyes and you are going to have them listen to a sound and they should listen carefully until they no longer hear the sound (which is usually 30 seconds to one minute).

Repeat the exercise and this time have students, as quietly as they can raise their hand when they stop hearing the sound.

Take it one step further and have them sit for another minute as quietly as possible and simply observe the sounds they hear. Have a discussion with the group to see if everyone heard the same sounds.

GoNoodle

You may have heard your child mention using GoNoodle in their classroom and wondered what they were talking about. GoNoodle is a web-based platform in which classroom teachers can provide brain breaks for their students. They may choose from an array of energizers or calming activities depending on the class' need at that moment.

This grant was acquired through Every Kid Healthy and enabled all classroom teachers to have full access to the site. While you won't have the premium features, you can experience GoNoodle at home by clicking here.

FitnessGram

The FitnessGram report begins in Kindergarten, as each students' Body Mass Index (BMI) is calculated using his/ her height and weight. Then beginning in fourth grade and continuing throughout high school, each student will participate in a series of assessments that detail his/ her physical health. The assessments used in the FitnessGram beginning in the fourth grade measure flexibility, cardio vascular fitness and upper body strength.

We will be starting to assess for the Fitnessgram in Grades 4 & 5 in November, as we work on the PACER. All students have practiced this (starting in Grade 3) and most have their PE goals based on this assessment. Additionally, parents can now access their child's Fitnessgram results through their NYC Schools Account. If you do not have an account yet, please register here.